New theory explains many of the bizarre observations made in quantum mechanics.
Thu, Nov 06, 2014 at 07:32 PM
Quantum mechanics, though firmly
tested, is so weird and anti-intuitive that famed physicist Richard
Feynman once remarked, "I think I can safely say that nobody understands
quantum mechanics." Attempts to explain some of the bizarre
consequences of quantum theory have led to some mind-bending ideas, such
as the Copenhagen interpretation and the many-worlds interpretation.
Now there's a new theory on the block, called the "many interacting
worlds" hypothesis (MIW), and the idea is just as profound as it
sounds. The theory suggests not only that parallel worlds exist, but
that they interact with our world on the quantum level and are thus
detectable. Though still speculative, the theory may help to finally
explain some of the bizarre consequences inherent in quantum mechanics, reports RT.com.
The theory is a spinoff of the many-worlds interpretation in
quantum mechanics — an idea that posits that all possible alternative
histories and futures are real, each representing an actual, though
parallel, world. One problem with the many-worlds interpretation,
however, has been that it is fundamentally untestable, since
observations can only be made in our world. Happenings in these proposed "parallel" worlds can thus only be imagined.
MIW, however, says otherwise. It suggests that parallel worlds can interact on the quantum level, and in fact that they do.
"The idea of parallel universes in quantum mechanics has been
around since 1957," explained Howard Wiseman, a physicist at Griffith
University in Brisbane, Australia, and one of the physicists to come up
with MIW. "In the well-known ‘Many-Worlds Interpretation’, each universe
branches into a bunch of new universes every time a quantum measurement
is made. All possibilities are therefore realised – in some universes
the dinosaur-killing asteroid missed Earth. In others, Australia was
colonised by the Portuguese."
"But critics question the reality of these other universes, since
they do not influence our universe at all," he added. "On this score,
our "Many Interacting Worlds" approach is completely different, as its
name implies."
Wiseman and colleagues have proposed that there exists "a universal
force of repulsion between ‘nearby’ (i.e. similar) worlds, which tends
to make them more dissimilar." Quantum effects can be explained by
factoring in this force, they propose.
Whether or not the math holds true will be the ultimate test for
this theory. Does it or does it not properly predict quantum effects
mathematically? But the theory is certain to provide plenty of fodder
for the imagination.
For instance, when asked about whether their theory might entail
the possibility that humans could someday interact with other worlds,
Wiseman said: "It's not part of our theory. But the idea of [human]
interactions with other universes is no longer pure fantasy."
What might your life look like if you made different choices? Maybe
one day you'll be able to look into one of these alternative worlds and
find out.
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